COLLEGE BASEBALL: Morris' two HRs earn Crowder a Seminole split

Brock Sisney

Tuesday

Feb 13, 2018 at 7:12 PM

SEMINOLE, Okla. — The Crowder Roughriders, No. 2 ranked in NJCAA Division I, salvaged a split Tuesday with Seminole State on the strength of the work of four pitchers combining on a four-hitter and sophomore Kobe Morris at the plate.

Morris had both of Crowder’s hits, a home run to lead off the game and then another solo blast in the fifth, en route to a 2-1 win over the Trojans in the second game of the night.

Chase Kyzer took a no-decision, allowing one run (earned) on two hits over 3 1/3 innings. He issued five walks and struck out four.

Jack Jumper, so strong in relief last Friday against Labette, allowed no runs on one hit over 2/3 innings. Jumper struck out one and walked none, and earned the win.

Zach Jackson, Crowder’s wins leader last season, allowed no runs on one hit over 2 1/3 innings and struck out two and walked one.

Aaron Ashby, who played critical roles both as a starter and a reliever on last season’s JUCO World Series qualifier, picked up the final two outs and the save with a pair of strikeouts. Ashby issued a four-pitch walk in his middle batter Tuesday.

Morris entered Tuesday with a perfect batting average — seven for his first seven in wins over Labette with a pair of home runs and five singles for his collection of hits.

In the opener Tuesday, Morris went hitless in four at-bats, his worst performance of the early season.

By his first at-bat of the nightcap, Morris had atoned for his 0-4 in the opener, taking a 2-1 pitch from Seminole State starter Jacob Bailey and connecting for a quick 1-0 lead.

Morris knocked his second homer on Bailey’s second pitch of the at-bat in the fifth, a two-out shot that accounted for the final score.

Seminole State scored its lone run in the fourth, Archer Brookman working a walk and eventually coming around to score on Tanner Treadway and Gunner Halter singles, Halter’s the RBI.

Morris had the game’s lone extra-base hits, since the Trojans managed all singles from Halter, Dalton Reed, Treadway, and Marc Lebreux.

Crowder moved to 3-1 on the season entering a four-game weekend series at home against Des Moines Area, doubleheaders played Saturday and Sunday at Roughrider Field. Saturday’s slate begins at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s play begins at noon.

In the first game Tuesday, Crowder took a 8-4 loss.

Down 3-1 entering the bottom of the fourth, Seminole State entered the top of the fifth ahead 7-3 after erupting for six runs.

Halter delivered the key hit in a true doubleheader with a split identity — a grand slam — since the teams combined for 19 hits in Game 1 and a mere six in Game 2.

Colten Nix led Crowder’s offense with three hits and two runs scored, half of which he scored on a solo homer.

Crowder scored one in the first, two in the fourth, and one in the fifth of the seven-inning contest.

Branson Williams and Frielin Cabrera each had two more hits and the trio of Nix, Williams, and Cabrera proved responsible for seven of the team’s eight hits.

Samuel Chaput had the other hit, a two-run homer.

The ‘Riders upped their homer total to 10 after their four Tuesday, with all of them on the road.

E.J. Scott took the loss for Crowder, allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits over three innings. He struck out three and walked none.

Bryce Bartlett allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits over two innings.

The last time Crowder and Seminole played each other it was last season in the South District championship game at Warren Turner Field with a JUCO World Series berth at stake.